Pneumatic rupture control garment



Jan. 3, 1950 HICKS, m

PNEUMATIC RUPTURE cormoz. GARMENT Filed May 21, 1947 Patented Jan. 3, 1950 tumreo PATENT o *PNEUMAIIG RUPTUR-E CONTROL GARMENT ,GeorgeL. Hicks, III, Qambridge, Md.

Application "May 21, 1947, ISeria'lNo. 749,477

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The present invention relateszto variable pr sure establishing and exerting :means which is highly useful in the technique of rupture control and .appertains, more particularly, to improved expansible and contractable pneumatic pad facilities incorporated in and forming an improved part .of-a .body embracing supporter; for examp a yieldable foundation garment.

It is a matter of common knowledge that, generally speaking, appliances ordinarily used for such purposes are in the formspf so-called,trus ses and belts wh h. a u ently :de i nedand constructed, embody one or morepads which, in use, bear forcibly against ruptured are t n y are such trusses cumbersome and uncomfortable,

they are objectionable lbeeause of metal a d ,leather constructional parts, are easily displaced and are tiring when allowed to remain in place for a prolonged period of time.

In carrying out the principles of the instant invention, I have evolved and produced a novel pneumatic pad equipped garment which is free of metal, springs, leather and crotch straps, one which exerts smooth hand controllable pressure against the rupture while conforming in shape to the rupture, one in which the degree of pressure may be adjusted and regulated according to exertion anticipated and is such in style and form to minimize chafing and undue restrictive body binding.

Another object of the invention is to provide a special rupture control garment which is in the form of a girdle which acts as an abdominal supporter and which embodies a non-elastic front panel, the latter provided with pocket means containing an accessibly arranged inflatable bladder constituting the aforementioned rupture control pad.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foundation garment of the nature alluded to wherein the latter is provided with a filler hose so constructed and arranged as to accommodate a readily attachable and detachable air bulb for variable inflation purposes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pocket construction in a non-elastic girdle front having a reinforcing patch, preferably of rubber, which reduces the likelihood of undesirable outward bulging.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the Views:

Figure 1 is a perspectiveyiewof a foundation garment or girdle constructed/inaccordance with his inven ion and showin the :man e i h th hand sq eezed air bul :in pra i m vedvFi ure '21s a ihorizqnt li ection taken on the plan f "1 1 7 1119 ;2-..2 of Fi u 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

:Fisure '3 is an enlarged fra m ntary secti l ,yiew on the line ,33- of "Figure ;2, looking in the .elireetion of the arrows.

Figure 4. is ,a detail elevational View of th bladder.

;F;igure.;5 is a fragmentary sectional and elevationa'l view of the intake -;e nd. of the bladder hose.

Fi ur -5 is a perspective slew .of a bu -t n infl tin deviceccnstitutinganaceessory for convenient use.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1 the numeral 8 denotes a foundation garment, a type which is often and otherwise referred to as a girdle and also has an abdominal supporter. This is characterized by elastic webbing 9, forming the sides and rear portions, and a non-elastic panel-like front [0. Zipper fastening means comprising components I l and I2 may, in practice, be provided.

The pad is, specifically speaking, in the form of a rubber or equivalent bladder I3, Which is preferably of the shape shown in Figure 4. It is to be understood, however, that the shape and size of the bladder will vary according to unpredictable requirements of the trade. The bladder is provided with an air supply and exhausting hose M of appropriate length, said hose bein provided on its intake end with a rigid nipple-like fitting l5 which, in turn, is internally provided with an insertable and removable air valve l6 of appropriate form. The valve is shown with a trip stem I1. The nipple and valve arrangement serves to accommodate a rigid nozzle I8 mounted on a pressure hose l9 attached to a valved air bulb 20. The discharge end of the nozzle is apertured and pointed as at 2|, whereby to trip the valve and to supply the desired air pressure.

On its inner surface the non-elastic satin or equivalent panel In is provided with a pocket, the same constructed from a suitably attached sheet of rubber or equivalent stock 22 (see Figures 2 and 3) Arranged and stitched in place on the interior of the pocket is a reinforcing or extra ply of rubber 23 (see Figure 3) and this element serves as a backing and strengthening wall, the same being interposed between the outer surface 5 of the bladder and inner surface of the panel l0.

With this construction outward bulging of the panel is restrained to a minimum. It follows that when the bladder or pad is inflated, the principal pressure is toward and against that part of the anatomy constituting the focal area. of the rupture.

The combination garment functions collectively as a girdle, corset, abdominal supporter and/or foundation garment, is characterized by an elastic major portion, and a non-elastic front panel portion, the latter being novel in that it has incorporated therein an expandible and contractable pneumatic pad. Collectively these parts contribute their proportionate shares in the provision of reliable and comforting means for rupture control. The degree of inflation of the pad is variable according to the needs and requirements of the individual wearer. Thus, the wearer may apply and release pressure at will and according to discretion. The hand bulb may be a 4 to the inner surface of said panel outwardly of said first named ply, said second ply constituting optionally left in place, or detached in keeping with the needs of the wearer.

Changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of details and parts may be resorted to in actual practice, so long as they do not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims, as is well understood.

I claim:

1. A rupture control appliance of the class described comprising a girdle including an elastic encircling band and a non-elastic front abdominal panel carried by said band, said panel being provided on its inner body contacting surface with a marginally attached ply of the elastic material, said ply coacting with the panel in defining a pneumatic pad holding pocket, and a second elastic ply within said pocket attached a reinforcing and pad backing element.

2. A rupture control appliance of the class shown and described comprising a girdle embodying an elastic encircling band and a nonelastic abdominal panel carried by the frontal portion of said band, a pneumatic pad mounted on the interior of said abdominal panel, said pad being in the form of an inflatable and deflatable bladder, said bladder having an air hose, said hose being provided on its intake end with a rigid sleeve-type nipple, a tire-type inflation valve mounted in the intake end of said hose and wholly housed and protected in the inner end portion of said nipple, and a readily attachable and detachable pressure pumping bulb provided with a companion hose terminating in a rigid nozzle adapted to fit telescopically and removably into said nipple and to come into direct engagement with the valve stem for purposes of opening the valve and inflating said bladder.

GEORGE L. HICKS, III.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,473,539 Beasley Nov. 6, 1923 2,240,308 Mahe Apr. 29, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 570,675 France May 5, 1924 

